Support for people living in the Gawler-Barossa region with a serious, progressive and life-limiting illness
Our Living Well with Serious Illness program provides care coordination and counselling services to people living with a serious, progressive and life-limiting illness and the people who care for them, including family and friends.
The no-cost program is free and aims to help both you and your family cope to enhance your quality of life.
Whether you have been recently diagnosed and you have no idea where to begin, or your health is deteriorating and you are needing assistance to manage your symptoms, this program can support you by addressing the practical, physical, social, emotional and spiritual issues that often accompany living with a serious illness.
Your workers will coordinate your care with other health care professionals involved in your treatment such as your GP.
Where possible, appointments will be made around your commitments.
Appointments can be provided in a place that is comfortable for you. Most often people choose to be seen at home or sometimes in an office.
This service is free.
To be eligible for the Living Well with Serious Illness program, you must:
The Living Well with Serious Illness staff are highly skilled and experienced Care Coordinators and Mental Health Clinicians.
Care Coordinators are Registered Nurses with experience in working with people living with serious, progressive and life limiting illnesses and palliative care.
Mental health clinicians include Psychologists, Mental Health Accredited Social Workers and Mental Health Nurses.
Our staff will ensure you receive the most appropriate service to meet your needs.
To get started with Living Well with Serious Illness, simply make an appointment with your GP and ask them to complete the Living Well with Serious Illness Referral Form.
You also can refer yourself directly, or Carers and family can refer on your behalf, with your consent, by contacting Sonder on (08) 8209 0700.
Information for GPs
To refer a patient to this service, please download the Living Well with Serious Illness Referral Form, complete and return to us via email or fax.
Due to program restrictions, Sonder clinicians are not able to provide medicolegal reports or assessments.
Living with a serious illness can affect every area of your life. Navigating the healthcare system and knowing the supports that are available to you can be confusing at times.
Experienced care coordinators are here to support you by:
Distress occurs when you feel you are unable to cope. Feeling helpless or not knowing what to do next can threaten your sense of wellbeing. Therapeutic counselling is more than ‘having someone to talk to’. The appointments give you the opportunity to speak about how your illness affects you and your family. You can then begin to develop skills to help you make decisions and improve your quality of life.
Experienced mental health clinicians can also assist with the following:
If you, or someone you are with, are hurt or need immediate support, please call 000.
Mental Health EmergenciesNo cost therapeutic counselling for people with mild to moderate mental health concerns
Available Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from 5 pm - 10 pm
This service is supported by funding from the Country SA Primary Health Network through the Australian Government’s PHN Program.